He hesitated. He looked at Muro and Uraso in a different manner this time. Uraso quietly spoke to him: "You cannot escape the vigilance of the white man. The wonderful fire guns can kill all of your people. You do not know what you are doing in trying to resist him. If you do not tell him he will find them, and then I cannot plead for you."
The chief, turning to one of the sub-chiefs, said: "Sama will take you to them."
The boys jumped as they learned the import of these words. They looked at John. The latter turned to the chief and said:
"How far are they from this place?"
The distance was indicated by signs, which Uraso interpreted to mean two hours.
"Bring in the wagons at once, and unload one of them; then take the other, with twenty-five men well armed, and carry Sama with you. The poor fellows are not, probably, in a condition to[p. 192] walk." Then, again turning to the chief, he asked: "How many prisoners have you?"
He held up his hand with fingers outstretched, indicating five. There was no delay in preparing the wagon, and Jack and Jill, the two old trustworthies, were hustled along, to show the path of freedom to some of the boys' former companions and associates.
John's last injunction was: "Be sure and take plenty of food along." The order was unnecessary. The boys had thought of this, and the wagon, held precious little but articles of comfort for the unfortunates.
Sama directed the wagon to the north, and Muro's son Lolo accompanied them on the journey.
"Do you know," said Harry, "we are going straight toward the Cataract?"